Century girls soccer blanks Loch Raven to take 2A state title

Century's Melanie Bell leaps into the arms of goalkeeper Lindsay Wagner as the team celebrates a 3-0 win over Loch Raven in the Class 2A state final at UMBC Stadium.

Century's Melanie Bell leaps into the arms of goalkeeper Lindsay Wagner as the team celebrates a 3-0 win over Loch Raven in the Class 2A state final at UMBC Stadium. (Brian Krista / Patuxent Publishing)

By Tom Worgo, tworgo@tribune.com

Century’s players rushed to embrace Sara Figuly when she left the stands at the end of the Class 2A state girls soccer championship game against No. 13 Loch Raven Friday.

No. 9 Century posted a 3-0 victory at UMBC as the Knights claimed their first state title since 2003.

Warther scored two goals and senior midfielder Alyssa Malanik had three assists.

“It was beautiful soccer,” said Figuly, who sat next to acting coach George Taggart and four players in a postgame press conference. “It was amazing to watch. Everything we have worked on all season came together. In my book it was perfect soccer, and you will probably never hear me say that again.”

It was their first shutout after four consecutive 2-1 playoff victories.

“The biggest concern we had was coming out in the second half,” Taggart said. “The last couple of game we had come out flat. They knew they had to come out and do it again. That’s what they did. Loch Raven didn’t come down the field more than a couple of times until late in the game. They did a great job of controlling the game and just dominating.”

Despite a late surge that nearly sent Saturday’s 2A state semifinal girls soccer match to overtime, it was Loch Raven’s early success that proved to be the difference. Behind first-half goals from seniors Katie Krejcik and Julia Davis, the Raiders defeated Marriotts Ridge, 2-1, at...